Reflection for March 22, 2023
Unmindful of The Cost
by Jeff T. Jo
What happens when personal interests weighs more than relationships? Attention-seeking success more than peace and harmony?
Absalom, David’s most handsome and charismatic son, and Ahithopel, David’s palace adviser “… whose every word Ahithophel spoke seemed as wise as though it had come directly from the mouth of God”(2 Samuel 16:23) conspired against their king, not only to overthrow him from his throne but to end his very life. David chose not to engage head-on with this coup de etat for the following reasons…
• … he treasured his relationship with his son.
• … he treasured his relationship with Ahithopel.
• … he treasured his relationship with the people of Israel.
He left his palace voluntarily along with his mighty men and he trusted God’s sovereignty in his situations.
When they were being hunted as “enemies”, David and his army had no choice but to face them in battle in the forest of Ephraim(18:6) and Israel’s army was defeated by David’s men “… and the CASUALTIES that day were great- 20,000 men”(v7). This struck my heart when I reflected on this! These were fellow Israelites, the lived in the same land. These men were fellow hebrews, they speak the same language. They were fellow Jews, they have the same faith expressed in Judaism… but because of such an arrogant ambition coming from supposedly and closely related to David, war amongst themselves broke and they were unmindful of the cost as long as they will succeed on what they think is right!
What do you think will happen …
• … when a young person decided to stop schooling and spend the rest of his life with peers?
• … when a wife has no control in the use of her credit cards?
• … when a husband gambles a lot?
• … when our country decides to protect our territory militarily against the aggressive move of China in Asia-Pacific region?
• … when we maliciously and intentionally ruin someone’s name & reputation?
20,000 men died that day… that means 20,000 children became fatherless, 20,000 wives became widows, 20,000 soldiers meant to protect their homeland will not be able to do their duties anymore just because of two persons who haven’t thought of the cost of their actions. Every choice that we do in this world has a ripple-effect either good or bad, godly or evil, temporary or eternity, unity or disharmony.
Let us be mindful of the cost and I exhort you to do the following 3 ‘Ts’
• TAKE the path of peace, just like what David did, for Jesus declared, “Blessed are the peacemakers for they will be called children of God”( Matthew 5:9).
• THINK of the by-product of your actions or decisions with Psalm 37:4 in mind and entrust all things in God’s sovereign hands.
• TREASURE relationships for these will last a lifetime. The faithful men of David did this and they were recorded for us in 2 Samuel 23.
I remembered you and your family in prayer today.
